Jón Kalman Stefánsson and Sigríður Hagalín Björnsdóttir
Author interview - part of the "OrdFraNord" literature festival.
The author couple Jón Kalman Stefánsson and Sigríður Hagalín Björnsdóttir are a real literary power couple.
Jón Kalman Stefánsson is known for his poetic, existential and magical-realist prose, which blends harsh Icelandic nature with high-pitched pathos. He has been translated into 27 languages, has won numerous awards and in 2026 was nominated for the Nordic Council Literature Prize for
Celestial bodies over the farthest edge of the world.
Sigríður Hagalín Björnsdóttir had her literary breakthrough with the novel Island (Ø) in 2016, which became the best-selling book in Iceland that year. In 2024, The fire as the first of her novels in Danish, and in 2025 it was adapted into a film with Pilou Asbæk in one of the leading roles. In 2025, A happiness in this world: a knight's saga, and its successor has already been published in Icelandic.
The conversation is based on the novels A happiness in this world: a knight's saga og Celestial bodies over the farthest edge of the world, both based on historical events. What can we learn from a court poet and soldier in the service of Iceland's most powerful
woman in the 1400th century – and of a brutal massacre of Spanish whalers in 1615?
Together, the two authors will provide insight into their writing processes, their lives, and the themes that occupy them – from the violent forces of nature to the importance of love and storytelling.
In conversation with Sigurbjörg Elín Hólmarsdóttir.
Enjoy something sweet before the event
Pre-order a piece of cake from Café Kjukken to bring to the event.
Together with your ticket to this event you can buy a piece of cake and a cup of coffee of your choice for 70 kr.
You can pick up your food from the café before the event. Arrive early to avoid queuing.
Please note that the offer is only valid if you have a valid ticket for this event, and the offer can only be used on Thursday, September 17, 2026, prior to the event. This offer must be purchased by September 15, 2026.
WordsFromNorth
OrdFraNord is a small literary festival with big names. Every autumn you can experience Nordic authors on stages both north and south of the Danish-German border. In 2026 we will be visited by Danish Johanne Mygind and the Icelandic author couple Jón Kalman Stefánsson and
Sigríður Hagalín Björnsdóttir.
OrdFraNord Literature Festival in the borderland is supported by the Rislum Foundation and is a collaboration between:
Danish Central Library for South Schleswig
Haderslev Libraries
Sonderborg Library
Verband Deutscher Büchereien Nordschleswig
The Nordic Association
The event takes place here:
Sonderborg Library
The Hall, Nørre Havnegade 15, 6400, Sonderborg
